Coded key switching system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to a switching system, and, more particularly, to such a system for controlling a plurality of electrical circuit apparatus by a coded key in the general form of a card.

[72] Inventor lrneeS-Sellky [56] ReferencesCited In n m (3111- UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3, P 3,215,903 11/1965 Barney 317/134 [221 P1164DCC.23,1968

1 451 Patented 1111, 27.1911 :1 [m A; H o 3,450,950 6/1969 Tarrats317/101 04) u u q 1 v w 'f 3,454,837 7/1969 Rhodes 317/134 end Huh-k,Cfl, Primary Examiner-Ralph D. Blakeslee 0 Attorneys-George J. Netterand Kendrick and Subkow 1541 comm KEY swrrcamc svsrw 1. Chi, 7 Draw It317/l0l CE, 3 1 7/1 34 ABSTRACT: The present invention relates generallyto a [5 1] Int. CL H046 1/32 switching system, and, more particularly,to such a system for [50] My! Sun! 70/264; contmlling a plurality ofelectrical circuit apparatus by :1

317/134, l0 l C; 340/149, 166, 167; 339/l8C coded key in the generalform of: card.

M m wFaemno/v Access SIG/VAL MA6A/6T/C 3, j 3 P0C$$IN6 srewee emotec/ecu/r 4e 1 N 4 152 154' 1 -a5 raiser/0N MA e/x FEM/7,62

i g -46 l 1 0/0 1 rec/4v 1 .1 I

3 I? T; I #1 1/0/0 5mm I e h Winn-20mm SHEET 3 UF 3 AZTOC/V V5 corms xsvSWITCHING svsrr-zm BACKGROUND OF THE r vE noN It has become increasinglydesirable in recent years to limit access to buildings, manufacturingestablishments, or particular areas of such buildings or establishments,and the like. Certain known equipment for accomplishing thispurpose hasconsisted generally of electrical or electromechanical ap? paratus thatis actuated-by a coded key device to unlock e n-' trance ways to areasdesired to be maintained secure.

2 card,*there-is further provided cod ed magnetic information on thecard identifying the holder of the card, which information is also readby the card reader and via additional circuitry a Such coded key deviceshave taken various. forms-apreferableone being that of a relatively thincard including magnetic coding information which actuates switchingmeans of a similarcoded character to energize circuits for unlockingwith an inner thin layer of ma'gnetizable material..ln use, themagnetizable layer is selectively magnetized in a coded manner forcoacting with the locking control apparatus.

For' a more complete description of apparatus for controlling lockingequipment and magnetic card key for operating such apparatus, referencecan be made to U.S. Pat. application Ser'. No. 592,006, MAGNETICALLYOPERATED the entrance to a secured area. An especially advantageous'card for this purpose includes outer nonconductive layers on whichvarious information is provided, such as the name of the individualauthorized to use the card, which .are laminated printed readout isobtained identifying the individual gaining access to the secured area,the time of such access and selected other pertinent'informationf When acard has coded information identifying an individual to whom access tothe restricted area is to be denied and unlocking disabling apparatus ofthe invention has been programmed to reject or prevent entrance whenthat particular card is presented, the magnetic information identifyingthe individual on the card energizes corresponding disabling circuitryto prevent unlocking of the apparatus, thereby denying entrance to theindividual presenting the card.

As a preferred fonn to be describe herein, the disabling apparatusincludes a matrix where each crossover point of a row and columnidentifies, say, a personnel identification number of an individual towhom it is desired to deny access. A rejection pin .is connected to eachcrossover point of the matrix, correspondingto the card to be rejected,which, in a way that will be described later, establishes a circuit todisable the unlocking apparatus whenever the associated card/s ispresented. Also, when a card is presented and an attempt is made to gainaccess with a card that has had its authorization revoked, the printoutwill identify the so presented card as a MECHANISM AND MAGNETIC CARD, byBruce S. Sedley,

filed NOVA, I966. r As is disclosed in the above reference Cooleypatent, such a key operated switch can be so constructed that a largenumber of cards issued to different individuals will permit access tothe secured area. It is additionally desirable that when cards are lost,stolen, or it becomes necessary or advisable to revoke the ability ofcertain individuals .from' gaining access to the secured area, that theequipment can be quickly and easily modified to accomplish this. And, itis a primary utility of the present invention to provide means forpreventing operation of the unlocking apparatus to the entrance of asecured area by a card that had previously been coded to permit suchaccess.

It is,- therefore, a primary object of the present invention to providein apparatus for controlling the unlocking of a mechanism by a codedkey, means for disabling such unlocking apparatus for operation withcertain preselected coded keys.. 4 I A further object of the inventionis the provision in card key tion of the invention.

control switching systemQof a selectively modifiable programmer fordisabling operation of the system when presented with a card having acertain predetermined code.

A further object of the invention is the provision of tip paratus as inthe above object in which the programmer includes a circuit matrix, eachcrossover point of which represents a reject code, such that oneffecting a predetermined circuit connection aspect at one or more ofthese crossover points, the unlocking circuit apparatus is madeinoperative when presented with a card key having the correspondingl'jOC!COd-' Other objects and advantages of the present invention'willbe apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains uponreference to the following description of a preferred embodirnent,considered in conjunction with the'accompanying drawings. u

' SUMMARY or THE INVENTION In accordance with the practice ofthe'present invention,

' there is provided an electrically operated locking-and un' lockingmechanism associated with an entrancedoor'to an area that is desired tobe maintained secure. A card, including magnetically coded areas, isreceived within a magnetic card reader, which, when the card includescoded information corresponding to that which has been preprogrammedinto the reader, provides electric signals to actuate the unlockingapparatus. In addition to the basic unlocking apparatus of the rejectcard.

The rejection pins are so constructed that they canbe quickly and easilyadded to the program matrix for any number of desired differentrejections, and just as quickly removed, thereby reinstating any givencard.

' I DESCRIPTION OF'TI-IE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENTTurning now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the area to which access isto becontrolled is illustrated generally by a door 10, identified by themarking RESTRICTED AREA, which door is usually maintained locked, Anelectrically operated mechanism 11 is associate with the door, which,upon actuation, in a manner that will be more fully described, unlocksthe door, permitting access to the area. Such unlocking means are wellknown in.the art, conventionally utilizing a solenoid to move a latchfrom locking to unlocking relation.

Also, mounted closely adjacent the door 10 is a card reader 12.Insertion of a properly coded key card into a receiving a slot 13 of thecard reader feeds energizing pulses along cabling (illustratedschematically by dashed line 14) to processing equipment 15 which can belocated at any desired remote location. Assuming proper coding of thecard and that authorization for use of the particular card presented hasnot been revoked in accordance with the present invention, then a signalis provided via cabling 16 to energize the unlocking 'mechanism 11.

In its major constructional aspects, the equipment 15 includes operationinitiation means such as the ON-OFF switch 17; an ACCESS signal light 18which is energized whenever access to the restricted area is made; aVOID signal light 19 which is energized whenever a revoked or rejectcard is presented; day and hour indicators 20 and 21, respectively; acard identification number indicator 22; and a manually adtempt to gainaccess, i.e., employee identification number, day

and hour of card presentation. Of particular importance to the presentinvention is the inclusion'o'f a rejection or voiding matrix 25 which,in a manner that will be more fully described herein, can be selectivelyactuated to reject or void any given cardorcards. Other than the partsof the apparatus particularly relating to rejecting of cards, thevarious functions and equipment of for accomplishing these functions aregenerally to be found in the prior art. A disclosure of one such systemis to be found in U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,100,389, entitled SECURITYBOOTH, by MaIrieeJ. Noregaard,

issued Aug. 13, I963. As already alluded to, that portion of'theequipment .15 which accomplishes rejection of a: predetermined card (orcards) includes 'as a fundamental part the matrix'25. Specifically, thismatrix comprises a sheetlike, insulative substrate 26 having rectangularareas 27 removed, giving it an overall lattice appearance. On one sideof the substrate (FIG. 3 the vertical or columnar parts are providedwith conductive layers 28 having extensions 29 at each junction with arow. Onthe opposite side (FIG. 4), there are provided conductive layers-30 on each row of he substrate having extensions 31 at each column.Accordingly, the matrix consists of a set of separate' conductiveelements, one for each column, and a further set of conductive elements,one for each row.

For a purpose that will be made clear later, a connective attitudebetween a given column conductor'28 and row conductor 30 is selectivelyaccomplished by a-diode connection pin 32. Each such pin 32 includes ahollow, open-ended tube 33, within which are carried a pair of U-shapcdelectrodes 34 arranged along opposite innersides of the tube. Theelectrodes end, whereas the electrode arms extend outwardly of the othertube end and are formed into hooks 35. A diode 36 is disposed centrallywithin the tube 33 between the electrodes 34. One diode terminal 37faces outwardly from the same open end of the tube as the hooks 35. Theother diode terminal 38 is relatively long, extending from the other.open end of the tube and secured within a first ferrule 39 by, say,solder 40. A second ferrule 41 slidingly received about the firstferrule 39 is -resiliently linked to 42.

the diode 36 by a compression coil spring 'l'o'produce a connectiveaspect at a crossover'point of the matrix,- a diode connection pin 32 isforced onto the crossover f in such manner that the hooks 35 extendthrough the removed areas 27 to the opposite side of the substrate(FIGS. 3 and ,4). Rotation of diode connection pin causes the hooks tosecurely .engage the row connectors. As shown best FIG. 6, the terminal37 simultaneously contacts .the columnar conductor 28 in the region ofthe crossover at the same time that hooks 35 grip the associated rowconductor 30, with good electrical connection insured by the resilientexertion of spring 42. An

1 electric circuit path is now established form the row conductor 30,hooks 35, electrodes 34, ferrule 4], spring ,42, terminal provided to astriker relay 45 which in turn provides power to the striker orunlocking mechanism 11 to permit opening of the door to the restrictedarea. Simultaneously with presentation of a correctly coded card andoperation of the circuit 44, an access signal such as the light 19 isprovided and the printer 24 prints outinforrnation as to of presentationof the card, personnel identification, as as any other pertinent data.

In addition to the'convention unlockingdiscussedin the preceding, thecorresponding decimal equivalent signals of the information provided bya card 42 on which it has been determined to base the rejection of agiven card, i.e., personnel number, for example, are electricallyconnected to corresponding rows (or columns) of the rejection matrix 25.in-

dividual leads are connected to the respective column conductors of thematrix and thence to a void relay 46. Accordingly, when a signal isprovided to the particular row conductor corresponding to a part of acode indicating rejection and a diode pin 32 is in operative relation tothe corresponding crosso'ver with an appropriate column conductor, thena signal is' made available through the matrix to actuate the void relay46, points of which are in the power supply to the striker relay 45 andare opened by actuation of the void relay, thereby disabling operationof the striker 11 and denying access to the card holder. Simultaneously,a circuit path exists through the matrix to energize the void light 19and cause the printer 24 to identify on the printed readout that theattempted entry has 3 been rejected. One form of identifying such voidedentry atv:lfosshar,portionscommonly extend outwardly-from one-tube" areais to be denied for a card presented including,

tempt is to provide a printed readout in color, for example.

- Turning now to FIG. 7 and a detailed circuit schematic of the cardrejection apparatus of this invention, operation will be described forthe situation where access to the restricted say, a personnelidentification number of 1000. It is to be understood that operation'isthe same for any other number, or number,

.. .each .number.havingone,oras many-digits-as the'sys'tem'is designedto accommodate. Moreover, although the matrix 25 is depicted ascomprising 100 columns and 100 rows, the matrix may be constructed withany desired number of rows and columns and still be within the spirit'ofthe invention.

Assuming that a card 42 including the personnel number 1000 hasbeen-presented to the equipment and, accordingly, binary signalsequivalent to the decimal 1000 are fed into binary-coded-decirnal (BCD)decoders 47-50, providing a through connection to the appropriatedecimal output line. More particularly, a through connection is providedfrom the plus terminal of a DC power source 51 to the "0" output line,which in turn is connected to one of the normally open points 00" of arelay 52 also identified as the 00" relay. The relay 52 coilhas one sideconnected to the DC plus terminal through decoder 48 and its other sidedirectly to the negative DC terminal. The remaining contact of the "O0"relay points is connected directly to a row conductor of the matrix,also identified as 00."

, v 4 Decoder 49 establishes a circuit from one side of void relay ofrelay The other contact of relay a corresponding "1000" relays 52 and 53are energized closing contact points 00" Reference is now made to thefunction block diagram of and 1000." With a diode pin connected in thematrix at the crossover of "O0" row and 1000" column, void relay 46 isnow energized effecting disabling of the unlocking mechanism as alreadydescribed while lighting the void light signal. Also, as has beendescribed, other contact points of the void relay 46 (not shown) mayactuate the printer to show that an attempt has been made to gainunauthorized access to the restricted area.

As a further and advantageous aspect of the invention, the matrix 25 canbe formed into a drum or cylinder. Not only does this conserve spacegenerally, but the enclosed region an output signal is can accommodatecertain of the collateral circuit apparatus.

I r L Although the invention has been described in the particularcontext of denying access to specified individual. it would be withinthe spirit of the in invention to invert the function achieved, i.e.,deny access to all but those for whom diode pins 32 are inserted in thematrix.

Still further, the technique and system of this invention can beutilized to accomplish other and fundamentally different results. Forexample, instead of an entry admission card, the

. card could be a credit card which-is verified with a remotely locatedcredit office. That is, if credit is to be denied to a particular creditcard holder, a rejection pin is inserted in a master control matrix, andon interrogation a signal indicating credit denial is generated.

What I claim is:

l. in a locking system adapted to be operated by keys having differentinformation coded thereon; said locking system including a key receivingstation, reading means for sensing the information coded on a keypresented at said key receiving station, decoding means for convertingsensed information from such a key into an electrical signal, and accesscontrol means responsive to such a signal; the improvement comprising: akey verification circuit operatively connected between said decodingmeans and said access control means for disabling said access controlmeans when a key having a predetermined code thereon is presented atsaid key receiving station; said key verification circuit comprisingseparate circuit means corresponding to the code on every key which isadapted to operate said locking system; and void means for operating anyof said circuit means, at any time, independently of the other circuitmeans, to disable said access control means when a key having a codecorrespondingly to said circuit means is presented at said key receivingstation.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, and further comprising meansfor restoring each of said circuit means to its original conditionat anytime, whereby said key verification circuit will not disable said accesscontrol means when a key having a code corresponding to such circuitmeans is presented at said key receiving station.

3. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said key verificationcircuit comprises a voiding circuit which, when closed, disables saidaccess control means; and whereineach of said separate circuit meanscomprises normally open switch means; and wherein said void meanscomprises separate means for selectively closing each of said nonnallyopen circuit means.

4. The improvement according to claim 3, wherein said normally openswitch means comprises separate conductors and wherein said void meanscomprises a conductor adapted to connect said first and secondconductors.

5. The improvement according to claim I, wherein said key verificationcircuit comprises: a substantially planar insulative substrate havingopposite surfaces; substantially parallel rows of conductive material onone surface of said substrate and substantially parallel columns ofconductive material on the opposite surface of said substrate; theintersections of said rows and said columns of conductive materialcomprising said circuit means; and means for selectively establishingelectri 12 connection between any one of said rows and any one of saidcolumns at substantially the intersection thereof.

6. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said key verificationcircuit comprises a matrix of rows and columns of conductive material;and wherein said circuit means comprise the intersections of said rowsand columns.

' 7. The improvement according to claim 6, wherein said rows ofconductive material lie on one side of an insulative substrate and saidcolumns of said conductive material lie on the other side of saidsubstrate; and wherein each of said void means comprises; a diode havingfirst and second terminals, at least one hooklike electrode electricallyconnected to the first diode terminal, and spring means relating thediode and electrode such that when the hooklike electrode iselectrically connected to one of said rows or columns of conductivematerial on one side of said matrix substrate, the diode second terminalis resiliently urged into contact with the intersectin column or row ofconducting material on the other side of sai substrate.

8. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein each of said separatecircuit means comprises normally closed circuit means; and wherein eachof said void means comprises mean for selectively opening each of saidnormally closed circuit means.

9. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein each of said keyreceiving stations comprises means for receiving a card havinginformatjgn magnetigglly coded thereon; and

em sat means for sensing said information comprises means for sensingmagnetically coded information on such cards.

10. in a locking system adapted to be operated by key cards havingdifferent information magnetically coded thereon; said locking systemincluding a card receiving station, reading means for sensing themagnetic information coded on a card presented 'at' said keyreceiving"s'tationfdeco'di ng iii canister converting sensed magneticinformation from such a card into an electrical signal. unlocking meansresponsive to such a signal, and disabling means operatively associatedwith said unlocking means to selectively disable said locking means; theimprovement comprising: a code voiding circuit operativcly connectedbetween said decoding means and said unlockingmeans for actuating saiddisabling means when a card having a predetermined magnetic code thereonis presented at said key receiving station; said code voiding circuitcomprising: a substantially planar insulative substrate having oppositesurfaces; substantially parallel rows of conductive material on one su'face of sad substrate and substantially parallel columns of con ductivematerial on the opposite surface of said substrate; and furthercomprising electrode means for selectively establishing connectionbetween one of said rows of conductive material and one of said columnsof conductive material at the intersection thereof to complete a circuitthrough said code voiding circuit and actuate said disabling means todisable said unlocking means.

1. In a locking system adapted to be operated by keys having differentinformation coded thereon; said locking system including a key receivingstation, reading means for sensing the information coded on a keypresented at said key receiving station, decoding means for convertingsensed information from such a key into an electrical signal, and accesscontrol means responsive to such a signal; the improvement comprising: akey verification circuit operatively connected between said decodingmeans and said access control means for disabling said access controlmeans when a key having a predetermined code thereon is presented atsaid key receiving station; said key verification circuit comprisingseparate circuit means corresponding to the code on every key which isadapted to operate said locking system; and void means for operating anyof said circuit means, at any time, independently of the other circuitmeans, to disable said access control means when a key having a codecorrespondingly to said circuit means is presented at said key receivingstation.
 2. The improvement according to claim 1, and further comprisingmeans for restoring each of said circuit means to its original conditionat any time, whereby said key verification circuit will not disable saidaccess control means when a key having a code corresponding to suchcircuit means is presented at said key receiving station.
 3. Theimprovement according to claim 1, wherein said key verification circuitcomprises a voiding circuit which, when closed, disables said accesscontrol means; and wherein each of said separate circuit means comprisesnormally open switch means; and wherein said void means comprisesseparate means for selectively closing each of said normally opencircuit means.
 4. The improvement according to claim 3, wherein saidnormally open switch means comprises separate conductors and whereinsaid void means comprises a conductor adapted to connect said first andsecond conductors.
 5. The imProvement according to claim 1, wherein saidkey verification circuit comprises: a substantially planar insulativesubstrate having opposite surfaces; substantially parallel rows ofconductive material on one surface of said substrate and substantiallyparallel columns of conductive material on the opposite surface of saidsubstrate; the intersections of said rows and said columns of conductivematerial comprising said circuit means; and means for selectivelyestablishing electrical connection between any one of said rows and anyone of said columns at substantially the intersection thereof.
 6. Theimprovement according to claim 1, wherein said key verification circuitcomprises a matrix of rows and columns of conductive material; andwherein said circuit means comprise the intersections of said rows andcolumns.
 7. The improvement according to claim 6, wherein said rows ofconductive material lie on one side of an insulative substrate and saidcolumns of said conductive material lie on the other side of saidsubstrate; and wherein each of said void means comprises; a diode havingfirst and second terminals, at least one hooklike electrode electricallyconnected to the first diode terminal, and spring means relating thediode and electrode such that when the hooklike electrode iselectrically connected to one of said rows or columns of conductivematerial on one side of said matrix substrate, the diode second terminalis resiliently urged into contact with the intersecting column or row ofconducting material on the other side of said substrate.
 8. Theimprovement according to claim 1, wherein each of said separate circuitmeans comprises normally closed circuit means; and wherein each of saidvoid means comprises mean for selectively opening each of said normallyclosed circuit means.
 9. The improvement according to claim 1, whereineach of said key receiving stations comprises means for receiving a cardhaving information magnetically coded thereon; and wherein said meansfor sensing said information comprises means for sensing magneticallycoded information on such cards.
 10. In a locking system adapted to beoperated by key cards having different information magnetically codedthereon; said locking system including a card receiving station, readingmeans for sensing the magnetic information coded on a card presented atsaid key receiving station, decoding means for converting sensedmagnetic information from such a card into an electrical signal,unlocking means responsive to such a signal, and disabling meansoperatively associated with said unlocking means to selectively disablesaid locking means; the improvement comprising: a code voiding circuitoperatively connected between said decoding means and said unlockingmeans for actuating said disabling means when a card having apredetermined magnetic code thereon is presented at said key receivingstation; said code voiding circuit comprising: a substantially planarinsulative substrate having opposite surfaces; substantially parallelrows of conductive material on one surface of sad substrate andsubstantially parallel columns of conductive material on the oppositesurface of said substrate; and further comprising electrode means forselectively establishing connection between one of said rows ofconductive material and one of said columns of conductive material atthe intersection thereof to complete a circuit through said code voidingcircuit and actuate said disabling means to disable said unlockingmeans.